This book provides comprehensive coverage of the three most important themes in the field of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDC) research: the basic biology of EDCs, particularly their effects on reproductive systems; EDC effects on humans and wildlife, including biomedical considerations; and potential interventions and practical advice for dealing with the problem of EDCs.

This book describes how exposure to various classes of endocrine disruptors, as well as other environmental chemicals targeting the endocrine system by alternative non-endocrine mechanisms, impact on endocrinological and endocrinological-related diseases. It includes comprehensive reviews of all aspects of environmental endocrinology, ranging from sources and patterns of exposure and identification of endocrine targets to direct endocrine disruptive mechanisms and indirect actions on the endocrine system, the latter including endocrine cell-directed cytotoxicity, oxidative damage, and genetic and epigenetic aberrations resulting in endocrine damage. It also examines the causal pathways and offers an extensive overview of downstream endocrinological and endocrinological-related disorders. In addition, several chapters focus on transgenerational actions, which are a topic of particular interest. Lastly, evidence from preclinical and clinical studies provides the basis for an in-depth, critical discussion of each topic. The book is part of the SpringerReference program, which provides access to ‘living editions’ that are constantly updated using a dynamic peer-review publishing process.

Some investigators have hypothesized that estrogens and other hormonally active agents found in the environment might be involved in breast cancer increases and sperm count declines in humans as well as deformities and reproductive problems seen in wildlife. This book looks in detail at the science behind the ominous prospect of "estrogen mimics" threatening health and well-being, from the level of ecosystems and populations to individual people and animals. The committee identifies research needs and offers specific recommendations to decision-makers. This authoritative volume: Critically evaluates the literature on hormonally active agents in the environment and identifies known and suspected toxicologic mechanisms and effects of fish, wildlife, and humans. Examines whether and how exposure to hormonally active agents occursâ€"in diet, in pharmaceuticals, from industrial releases into the environmentâ€"and why the debate centers on estrogens. Identifies significant uncertainties, limitations of knowledge, and weaknesses in the scientific literature. The book presents a wealth of information and investigates a wide range of examples across the spectrum of life that might be related to these agents.

Insight into the role of hormones, particularly estrogen and testosterone, in health and disease etiology – including interactions with other hormone pathways – has dramatically changed. Estrogen and androgen receptors, with their polymorphisms, are key molecules in all tissues and are involved in a number of homeostatic mechanisms but also pathological processes including carcinogenesis and the development of metabolic and neurological disorders such as diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease. Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can interfere with the endocrine (hormone) systems at certain dosages and play a key role in the pathology of disease. Most known EDCs are manmade and are therefore an increasing concern given the number commonly found in household products and the environment. This book will cover the mechanisms of EDC pathology across the spectrum of disease, as well as risk assessment and government and legal regulation to provide a holistic view of the current issues and cutting-edge research in the topic. With contributions from global leaders in the field, this book will be an ideal reference for toxicologists, endocrinologists and researchers interested in developmental biology, regulatory toxicology and the interface between environment and human health.

To safeguard public health, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must keep abreast of new scientific information and emerging technologies so that it can apply them to regulatory decision-making. For decades the agency has dealt with questions about what animal-testing data to use to make predictions about human health hazards, how to perform dose-response extrapolations, how to identify and protect susceptible subpopulations, and how to address uncertainties. As alternatives to traditional toxicity testing have emerged, the agency has been faced with additional questions about how to incorporate data from such tests into its chemical assessments and whether such tests can replace some traditional testing methods. Endocrine active chemicals (EACs) have raised concerns that traditional toxicity-testing protocols might be inadequate to identify all potential hazards to human health because they have the ability to modulate normal hormone function, and small alterations in hormone concentrations, particularly during sensitive life stages, can have lasting and significant effects. To address concerns about potential human health effects from EACs at low doses, this report develops a strategy to evaluate the evidence for such low-dose effects.

Those who are familiar with the two volumes of The Year in Endocrinology may, at first glance, fail to recognize their relationship to the present volume, Contemporary Endocrinology. The name is different and the cover design different, but nonetheless the admonition against judging a book by its cover is very well taken in this instance. In fact, Contemporary Endocrinology is not only the direct linear descendant of The Year in Endocrinology, it is a purposeful clone thereof-the topics are unchanged, the talented group of authors is unchanged, and most importantly, both the objective of the work and the manner in which that objective is approached are unchanged. The objective is, of course, to assist the reader in maintaining currency with respect to important developments, both basic and clinical, in the major areas of endocrinology. We are all much too familiar, unfortunately, with the difficulty of maintaining currency these days. Our approach to dealing with the informational inflation that we are suffering is similar to that used by economists in dealing with monetary inflation, that is, to increase interest. This we have attempted to do by providing for the reader an easy-to-read group of essays in which advances in individual areas of endocrinology are re viewed broadly, synthesized, and placed into perspective by a group of authors who are authorities in their individual fields. They serve, not as guest artists, but as members of a stable Editorial Board that provides continuity by contributing to successive volumes.

A leading voice in public health policy and top environmental medicine scientist reveals the alarming truth about how hormone-disrupting chemicals are affecting our daily lives--and what we can do to protect ourselves and fight back. Lurking in our homes, hiding in our offices, and polluting the air we breathe is something sinister. Something we've turned a blind eye to for far too long. Dr. Leonardo Trasande, a pediatrician, professor, and world-renowned researcher, tells the story of how our everyday surroundings are making us sicker, fatter, and poorer. Dr. Trasande exposes the chemicals that disrupt our hormonal systems and damage our health in irreparable ways. He shows us where these chemicals hide--in our homes, our schools, at work, in our food, and countless other places we can't control--as well as the workings of policy that protects the continued use of these chemicals in our lives. Drawing on extensive research and expertise, he outlines dramatic studies and emerging evidence about the rapid increases in neurodevelopmental, metabolic, reproductive, and immunological diseases directly related to the hundreds of thousands of chemicals that we are exposed to every day. Unfortunately, nowhere is safe. But, thanks to Dr. Trasande's work on the topic, and his commitment to effecting change, this book can help. Through a blend of narrative, scientific detective work, and concrete information about the connections between chemicals and disease, he shows us what we can do to protect ourselves and our families in the short-term, and how we can help bring the change we deserve.

Endocrine Disruption and Human Health starts with an overview of what endocrine disruptors are, the issues surrounding them, and the source of these chemicals in the ecosystem. This is followed by an overview of the mechanisms of action and assay systems. The third section includes chapters written by specialists on different aspects of concern for the effects of endocrine disruption on human health. Finally, the authors consider the risk assessment of endocrine disruptors and the pertinent regulation developed by the EU, the US FDA, as well as REACH and NGOs. The book has been written for researchers and research clinicians interested in learning about the actions of endocrine disruptors and current evidence justifying concerns for human health but is useful for those approaching the subject for the first time, graduate students, and advanced undergraduate students. - Provides readers with access to a range of information from the basic mechanisms and assays to cutting-edge research investigating concerns for human health - Presents a comprehensive, translational look at all aspects of endocrine disruption and its effects on human health - Offers guidance on the risk assessment of endocrine disruptors and current relevant regulatory considerations

Endocrine Disruptors in the Environment A concise and engaging overview of endocrine disruption phenomena that brings complex concepts within the reach of non-specialists For most of the last decade, the science of endocrine disruption has evolved with more definitive evidence of its damaging potential to health and environment. This book lists the major environmental chemicals of concern and their mechanism of endocrine disruption including remedial measures for them. Divided into three parts, Endocrine Disruptors in the Environment begins with an overview of the endocrine system and endocrine disruptors, discussing their salient features and presenting a historical perspective of endocrine disruption phenomena. It then goes on to cover hormone- signaling mechanisms, followed by various broad classes of putative endocrine disruptors, before introducing readers to environmental epigenetic modifications. Part two of the book focuses on removal processes of various EDCs by biotic and abiotic transformation/degradation. The last section consists of four chapters embracing themes on finding solutions to environmental EDCs—including their detection, regulation, replacement, and remediation. Endocrine Disruptors in the Environment is the first book to detail the endocrine effects of several known environmental contaminants and their mechanism of endocrine disruption. Additionally, it: Covers both the chemistry and biology of endocrine disruption and compiles almost all the known endocrine disrupting environmental chemicals and their mechanisms of toxicity Addresses policy and regulatory issues relevant to EDCs including scientific uncertainty and precautionary policy Brings forth the use of Green Chemistry principles in avoiding endocrine disruption in the designing and screening for safer chemicals and remediation of the EDCs in aquatic environment Includes a useful glossary of technical terms, a list of acronyms, topical references, and a subject index Endocrine Disruptors in the Environment is an ideal book for environmental chemists and endocrine toxicologists, developmental biologists, endocrinologists, epidemiologists, environmental health scientists and advocates, and regulatory officials tasked with risk assessment in environment and health areas.